Chapter 73: Forging Alliances
The quiet hum of anxious voices filled the dimly lit room where Valen, Aylara, Kael, Lian, Seraphine, and a handful of new recruits gathered around a makeshift table. With nightfall only hours away, they had begun drawing their battle plans on an old map of the academy's layout. The central chamber, a hidden hall beneath the academy's main levels, was marked as the focal point of the upcoming ritual, a place Valen knew would soon become a battleground.
Valen stood over the map, his expression a mask of focus as he explained their approach. "Our goal is straightforward: disrupt the Black Vow's ritual before they can complete it. We don't need to defeat every single member—we just need to break their hold on the ritual site."
A new recruit, a wiry boy with wide eyes and a hesitant voice, raised his hand. "But… won't they expect us to attack? How are we going to get in without alerting them?"
